“Oh, it’s no use,” my hands and my phone fall in my lap and I hang my head, “I’m going to lose my job for sure.”
Archer follows me to the floor and sits next to me. I feel his hand reach my back, lightly rubbing it and I want to tell him to stop but I just don’t.
“Hey…hey, it’s going to be okay, I promise. Let’s think. Who have we got that will come looking for us?”
My eyes wonder as I think, “it’s big zero for me. I live alone. No one to answer to and if a friend or my mom calls, they won’t think it’s a big deal if I don’t answer,” I sigh.
I look at him and he’s biting his lip looking around and thinking as well. I wait patiently hoping he’ll have a better answer, “Um, that’s a no go for me as well…unfortunately. No one is supposed to see me tonight and they won’t find it odd if I don’t answer the phone for one night,” We both sigh in unison and lean back onto the shelf.
My whole body tightens at the looming situation and I’m sure my life as I know it is over. Everything I’ve worked for is gone because of one rash decision. I was so lucky to get this job right in town. It was my dream, and if I lose this job, I’ll have to look in a neighboring town…if they even hire me after being fired.
I roll my eyes at myself.
“Okay…next thing then,” he offers again, “…will anyone else be coming to the library tonight.”
“No,” I murmur irritated.
“O-k-a-y, so when does someone come in again?”
“8:30 in the morning,” my eyes widen hearing myself say it out loud and our eyes meet again.
“We’re stuck in here all night,” we say in unison.
***
Archer
A long pause follows and I realize I’m holding my breath because when I let it out we both start laughing again. ‘
“Great minds think alike,” I say hopeful of getting our conversation on a better track.
I realize we are stuck in here all night and I honestly want to make the best of this. I didn’t have this planned, but I honestly couldn’t have come up with a better way to get time alone with her.
Wait that sounds stalkerish. A normal date would have been just as good Archer.
“I wish we had been thinking alike and decided to not come down here,” she murmurs under her breath in a sassy tone.
My stomach drops. I definitely don’t want this to be a situation that makes her hate me, “I know,” I draw out, “and I’m really sorry. I owe you big time.”
“Yes, you do,” her face rises in a slight smile and my heart thumps. She has the most beautiful smile and I’d love to see it more at my expense.
“Well, we have lots of time to kill,” I place my hands on the cold concrete and spin myself to face her, “So, let’s waste some time.”
“How?”
“Well…where are you from?” I already know the answer but I need to keep a low profile.
“I’m from here. I left for college but always had plans of coming back. I love this little town.”
“Yeah, this is home for me too. Born and bred. I can’t imagine being anywhere else.” A smile follows my words as I imagine us sailing off into the sunset in a home with some land somewhere close to library.
“I never left,” I continue, and her eyes widen questioning me, “Nope. I stayed with dad the whole time. Well, I mean working with dad. I have my own place,” I gush embarrassed.
Her finger points to me as she sits up straighter facing me as well now too, “Wait, so did we go to the same high school?”
I know this answer too and I actually dread saying it. With each question she gets closer to the truth of who I am and once she fully remembers, I fear she’ll never speak to me again.
I should have done better that day.